The Aussie Music Corner

[Deleted]

I feel with the Go-Betweens it was like a long novel or something. Grant and Robert's lyrics had a depth that made me always rush to buy their albums to see what was up with them. I'm a sucker for a good song, don't want everything to be a sonic adventure. This could be my fave of theirs:

[fearlessfreap]

[fearlessfreap]

Best Alice Cooper rip ever

[fearlessfreap]

[fange]

Billy and the Aztecs were seminally important in Aussie music history, one of the hardest working and rocking acts in the country. To be honest, i think their version of 'PI' is my most favourite ever...

[fange]

Thread bump!

Most music fans would be aware of the Oils largely from their 80s-and-onwards albums and singles, but they came out of a very fertile Sydney music scene in the late 70s, cutting their teeth in the rather dodgy pubs and clubs of the harbour city at a time when you either played hard and well or you got chewed up and spit out HARD.

Their first album, from '78, wears their influences pretty openly - think along the lines of Radio Birdman and Buzzcocks crossed with The Angels (the Aussie band) and Robin Trower - punk rock energy mixed with 70s rock song styles. One of Aus' great live bands, and the aggression is a key part. 

'Powderworks'


'Run By Night'


'Surfing with a Spoon'


Any thoughts on these, or MO in general?

How much coverage/exposure did they get in the UK and US during their heyday?

[fange]

Well, now that the FLURRY of comments about the Oils have died down I'll post some reissue news that all of you will be just jumping for joy to hear!

The Saints ('73 - '78) - (I'm) Stranded Box Set

One of the most revered, reviled and talked about records in all Australian music history, (I’m) Stranded by The Saints finally gets the vinyl box set treatment.

A joint collaboration between In The Red, Universal Music Australia and spearheaded by Feel Presents and Saints founder Ed Kuepper, the deluxe edition of (I’m) Stranded will feature 4 x vinyl long players covering all the band’s studio and live recordings from 1976 thru 1977 and includes:

- The iconic debut album remastered for vinyl for the first time in over 40 years
- A five-song live performance from Paddington Town Hall Sydney 3.4.1977 appearing on vinyl for the first time
- A full live performance from the Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival, London November 1977 appearing on vinyl for the first time
- All three tracks from the 1977 This Perfect Day 12” single and all four tracks from the 1977 1-2-3-4 double 7” single
- The previously unreleased 1976 demo mix of the full (I’m) Stranded album.
- In addition to all that vinyl, (I’m) Stranded deluxe edition will also features a 28 page 12” x 12” photo essay of the band covering their origins from 1973 through the end of of ’77, authorised band history, an 8” x 10” 1976 promo photo and a (I’m) Stranded sticker.

"It's been an exhausting yet thrilling process being involved in the creation of this box set. It's been 51 years in the making and has possibly turned out even better than I anticipated. It's by far the most extensive appraisal of the band, both aurally and visually, that has ever been made available and hopefully reveals some things people may not have known about the band.” - Ed Kuepper

LP1 - (I'm) Stranded - Original Version 1976
SIDE 1.
1. (I’M) STRANDED
2. ONE WAY STREET
3. WILD ABOUT YOU
4. MESSIN’ WITH THE KID
5. EROTIC NEUROTIC
SIDE 2.
1. NO TIME
2. KISSIN’ COUSINS
3. STORY OF LOVE
4. DEMOLITION GIRL
5. NIGHTS IN VENICE

LP2 - (I'm) Stranded - Alternate Mix 1976 (Previously Unreleased)
SIDE 1.
1. (I’M) STRANDED
2. ONE WAY STREET
3. WILD ABOUT YOU
4. MESSIN’ WITH THE KID
5. EROTIC NEUROTIC
SIDE 2.
1. STORY OF LOVE
2. NO TIME
3. KISSIN' COUSINS
4. UNTITLED (OG Version)
5. DEMOLISHION GIRL
6. NIGHTS IN VENICE

LP3 - Sydney & London Studio + Sydney Live 1977
SIDE 1.
1. THIS PERFECT DAY
2. L-I-E-S
3. DO THE ROBOT
4. LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR
5. ONE WAY STREET
6. DEMOLITION GIRL
7. RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH
SIDE 2.
1. THIS PERFECT DAY (LIVE)
2. RUN DOWN (LIVE)
3. EROTIC NEUROTIC (LIVE)
4. DEMOLITION GIRL(LIVE)
5. NIGHTS IN VENICE(LIVE)

LP4 - Live at The Hope & Anchor, London - 26/11/1977
SIDE 1.
1. DO THE ROBOT
2. LOST & FOUND
3. LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR
4. RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH
5. UNTITLED
6. RUN DOWN
7. THIS PERFECT DAY
SIDE 2.
1. MESSIN’ WITH THE KID
2. ORSTRALIA
3. NIGHTS IN VENICE
4. (I’M) STRANDED
5. DEMOLITION GIRL
6. ONE WAY STREET


I'm not TOO much of a sucker for these kinds of boxes, knowing that they are often bought and played once and forgotten, but The Saints have had so little of real interest and quality released AT ALL over the last 50 years (small market, legal issues, band acrimony among the various issues) that I have considered this one a no-brainer and pulled out the plastic toot sweet [fully sic].

The package looks awesome as does the prospect of the unreleased live stuff, and the original mix will be fascinating to hear. This album is a proper punk rock landmark, and deserves this kind of attention to detail and love.

[adamcoan]

It is always a shame when an iconic record has to be be remastered.

There are many records where the sound is lacking in quality, this is one such release that is perfectly fine in its original form. Naturally, usually a few years later, we will be given the opportunity to hear another re- issue where we can purchase the record as it was originally released.

The album is essential for any collecter of music. I do wish that labels would stop with the limited edition runs and excessively priced mega bundles that are released on a weekly basis.

RSD release schedules have created a monster. What serves most bands well is their finest hours to remain in print, and the original releases left untouched. Modern vinyl pressings and the artwork on many re-issues, frankly are appaling.

[fange]

That's an interesting take, Jimmy, no remastering at all.

[adamcoan]

Oct 16, 2024 12:03:44 GMT fange said:

That's an interesting take, Jimmy, no remastering at all.

Not if hearing the music in its original release is important to you. I personally prefer the original release where possible.



While Spotify and Tidal etc are used heavily by myself, the content is normally remastered versions. More often than not, they are merely different, rather than enhanced. The buzzcocks re-issue is awful, Floyds Animals is basically a boosting of a few sounds, lasting less than a minute, Giles brought nothing to the Beatles catalogue and when comparing to the originals, in many cases, some things are lost. The c.d versions of many releases are a minefield. The point of a remaster could be construed to appeal to people who care about sound quality. In truth, those that care about sound quality complain the most. The remaster or remix is, more often than not, totally devoid of the artist's input.



Back to mono devotees and the high price of original releases suggest that when it comes to fans of many artists, big bucks are invested in that original sound and production. I understand the appeal of box sets, some of them are staggering in their determination to satisfy the curious and completist. Truth is of course it is the existence of the original version and release that allows the existence of these things to be rehashed on a never ending loop.



Anyhoo, I'm just a miserable old bastard. Get an original first pressing if you can.

[fange]

That, thankfully, is not a problem as i have my copy i bought in the 80s and will be interested to see how they compare.

I'm not really an audiophile so it is very hard for me hear small differences in frequencies, and i dont have an amazing hi-fi set up anyway, so unless there are big changes or problems with the sound i probably wont care too much; i'm getting this more because i love the record and want all the live stuff that comes from that period too, in a package that does it justice and this looks like it. And will play the fuck out of it.

[fange]

["BING E BONG"]

[fange]

What a group. Too volatile and contrary to ever last long, but we can still see and hear how brightly they shone.

[shakesomeaction]

Jun 22, 2020 9:21:41 GMT rayge said:

Two Heads, when I was a Postcard collector, was the first thing I heard, but then came Cattle and Cane - a thing of wonder – and I was totally sold to the extent that I bought every dammn thing up to the break-up, and then after the reunion up to Grant's death... 

This relatively recent (2019) Robert Forster track is really sweet: